Mining machine transport means



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. W. DARTNELL MINING MACHINE TRANSPORT MEANS Filed Aug. 23, 1937 July `2, 1940.

@wil` July 2,r 1940. w.`w. DARTNELL 2,296,598

MINING MACHINE TRANSPORT MEANS `Filed Aug. 23, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 2, 1940. w. w. DARTNELL 2,206,598

MINING MACHINE TRANSPORT MEANS Filed Aug. 23, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lieen/ZM@ @ii/am @afffzefi July 2, 1940. w. w. DAFerNx-:LLI V 2,206,598

MINING 'MACHINE TRANSPORT MEANS V Filed Aug. 23, 1937 A5 Sheets-Sheet 4 i9 M d).

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MINING MACHINE TRANSPORT MEANS Filed Aug. 23, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 2, 1940 PATsNr erica MINING MACHINE TRANSPORT MEANS William W. Dartnell, Claremont, N. H., assigner to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application August as, 1937, serial No. 160,378

13 claims. (01262-30) This invention relates to mining machines, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to improvements in the transport means for a coal mining machine of the flexibly fed, floor cutter type 51 whereby the machine may be transported from one working place to another about the mine.

In coal mines of a certain character, it is undesirable to lay a trackway and install trolley power lines in the mine passages, and therefore it is necessary to employ readily portable transport means for the coal mining equipment which may run directly along the mine floor on its own traction wheels without the necessity of a trackway. It has been found that pneumatic tires, such as those used on automobiles, are well adapted to use under such conditions since they provide not only adequate traction, but also provide cushioned movement of the mining machine over an uneven mine iioor.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved transport means for a coal mining machine. Another object is to provide an improved 1 mining machine transport means which is driven from the feeding mechanism of the mining machine, thereby simplifying the propelling mechanism for the transport means. A further object is to provide an improved transportmeans for a coal mining machine of the iiexibly fed, iioor cutter type wherein the transport means is driven through elements of the flexible feeding mechanism. Yet another object is to provide, in a machine of the above character, improved transport means wherein the traction means therefor are connected to and driven directly by the feed operating and controlling members of the machine feeding mechanism. A still further object is to provide an improved transport means for a coal mining machine including transport wheels attachable tothe machine whereby the machine ,m may be moved from place to place about the mine without the use of a separate transport truck. Still another object is to provide, in a machine of the type having cable winding drums for feeding and guiding the machine during its movement over the mine floor during the cutting operation, improved transport means comprising supporting and driving wheels attachable directly to the Icable winding drums of the machine, so thatlthe lwheels are driven by the drums, and also embodying a caster wheel attachable tothe cutter bar of the machine, or some other suitable point, to facilitate steering of the machine during transport. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear. Y l i In the accompanying drawings, there are shown for purposes of illustration several forms which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a coal mining machine having embodied therein one illustrative form of the improved transport means.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the mining machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, parts being shown in plan to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional `View taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 with the machine resting on the mine iioor and the traction wheel detached from the cable winding drum.

Fig. 5 is a detail View illustrating a portion of the feed gearing.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, on a reduced scale, showing the front caster wheel connected to the cutter bar at a different location.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the mining machine shown in Fig. 1, with the transport wheels detached from `the machine and the feeding and controlling cables extended in operative feeding and controlling relation with respect to the cable winding drums.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing modied form of construction.

Fig..9 is a side elevational view of the mining machine shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical sectional View taken substantially on line lil-,I of Fig. 8.

Fig. l1 is a View similar to Fig. 8, showing still another modiedforni of construction.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the mining machine shown in Fig. 11.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, the coal mining machine is generally designated by the reference character I, and the improved transport means is generally designated 2. The mining machine is herein of the flexibly fed, low vein, iioor cutter type, and may be of the same general construction as that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, in the drawings of a copending application of Joseph F. Joy and Leon E. Simmons, Serial No. 71,653, filed March 30, 1936, nowmatured into Patent No. 2,131,178, dated September 27, 1938, although it will be evident that the improved transport means may be associated with coal mining machines of various other types.

The mining machine I comprises a machine frame 3 having a smooth bottom surface 4 adapted to` rest upon the mine floor for supporting the machine for sliding movement over the mine floor during the cutting operation and maneuvering of the machine with respect to the coal face. Supported by the machine frame and projecting forwardly therefrom is an elongated plane cutter bar 5 having guided for circulation about its margin an endless cutter chain 6. Mounted on the rearward portion of the machine frame and arranged .at opposite sides of the machine on alined horizontal axes extending transversely of the machine, are feedoperating and controlling members l and Il, herein in the form of cable winding drums having feeding and controlling cables 9 and I0 respectively wound thereon. Supported within the machine frame is a reversible motor having its power shaft I I operatively connected to the driving means for the cutter chain and the cable winding drums. detached from the machine in a manner to be later explained, the machine rests Yon its own bottom directly on the mine floor, as shown in Fig. 7; and arranged at the rear end of the machine are sets of guide sheaves I2 and i3, while located at the front end of the machine is a front guide sheave Ill, and the feeding and controlling cables 9 and lil are adapted tobe extended from their drums in various manners about these guide sheaves to effect maneuvering of the machine and feeding of the machine during the cutting operation, in the manners well understood by those skilled in the art.

The driving mechanism for the cable winding drums lmay be similar to that described in the above mentioned Joy and Simmons application, with the exception that, in this instance, the driving gearing for thedrums is so constructed as to effect drum rotation in the same direction. Formed on the rear end of the motor power shaft l l,- as shown in Fig. 3is a spur pinion I 5 meshing with spur gears I6 and Il arranged on parallel horizontal axes extending longitudinally of the machine and spaced equi-distantly from the central longitudinal vertical plane of the machine,

the motor pinion driving the spur gears I6 and II in the saine direction. The spur gears are formed integral with shafts I8 and I9 respectively, suitably journaled within bearings supported within the machine frame, and these spur gears are connectible by multiple disc clutches 29, 2l] to coaxial shafts 2l and 22. Formed on the shaft I9 is a spur gear 23 meshing with a spur gear 24 (see Fig. 5) keyed to a horizontal shaft 25, herein arranged parallel with the shaft I9. The shaft 25 is suitably journaled within the machine frame, and formed integrally with the shaft is a spur gear 26 meshing with a spur gear 21 coaxial with the spur gear il. Meshing with and driven by the spur gear 2l is an intermediate spur gear 28 meshing with a spur gear 29 coaxial with the spur gear I6. The spur gears I6 and I1 constitute the high speed terminal gears of the high speed transmission,. while the spur gears 21 and 29 constitute the loW speed terminal gears of the low speed transmission. The gears 21 and 29 are connectible by multiple disc clutches 30, 30 to the shafts 2| and 22, respectively. The sets of clutches 20 and 30 are provided with suitable shipper mechanism 3|, 3|. Fixed to the shafts 2l and 22 are worms 32 and 33 respectively, herein having teeth of the same pitch and inclination instead of opposite inclination as disclosed in the above mentioned copending application; and these Worms each mesh with a worm wheel 34 connectible by a multiple disc clutch 35 to a shaft 36. vThe shafts 36, 3S are arranged in axial aline- When the transport means is ment on horizontal axes extending transversely of the machine in parallelism with the cable winding drum aXes. Each shaft has formed thereon a spur gear 3l meshing with an internal gear 38 formed on the drum. Each drum is provided with an eccentric mounting 39 having an operating lever 40 whereby the drum may be rotated to bring the internal gear out of mesh with its driving gear, so that the drum may freely rotate. Each drum is journaled on a bearing sleeve lli supported by the eccentric 39, and the latter in turn is rotatably mounted on and supported by a stub shaft l2 projecting from the side of the machine frame. It will thus be seen that when the internal gears are brought into meshing engagement with their driving gears and the clutches 35 are applied, the cable winding drums may be Idriven in winding direction at either a high or a low speed under the control of the high and low speed clutches Eil and 30. 'When the driving motor is reversed, the drums may, of course, be driven at either a high or a low speed in the reverse direction. As a similar feedingmechanism is clearly described in the above mentioned copending application and as the mode of operation of a mining machine of the type disclosed is Well known to those skilled in the art, further description of the mining machine structure is considered unnecessary.

Now referring to the improved transport means for the machine, it will benoted that when the machine is resting on its bottom surface on the mine floor, as shown in Fig. '7, and it is desired to transport the machine about the mine, the ma chine frame is jacked up, in any suitable manner, and supported in its elevated position by suitable blocking. When the machine is in its elevated position, traction wheels, herein of the pneumatic tire type, such as commonly used on automobiles, are attached directly to the cable winding drums 'I and 8. These traction wheels each comprise a large hub i5 having a flange` t6 provided with an annular shoulder 4l adapted to surround and engage the exterior periphery of the outer drum flange, in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 3. When the wheel hub is placed in position on the cable winding drum, it is secured in such position by screws 48, in the manner of an automobile wheel mounting. Secured to the wheel hub is a rim 49 adapted to support and retain in position thereon the flanges 5G of a conventional pneumatic tire casing 5i. Attached to the forward end of the cutter bar 5 is a bracket 52 secured, as by bolts 53, to the cutterbar and supporting a swivel member 54 of a caster wheel 55, the latter also having a pneumatic tire. When the supporting wheels are properly attached in position on the machine, the machine is again jacked up and the blocking removed from beneath the same, and thereafter the machine is lowered to bring its supporting wheels into engagement with the mine floor. When the machine is so supported, thetraction wheels may be driven through the feed driving gearing at either a high ora low speed and in either of opposite directions by the mining machine motor,

and asthese wheels are driven to propel the maf,r

chine about the mine, steering of the machine may be facilitated by the front caster wheel. When the traction wheels are secured to the cable winding drums, the cables 9 and I0 wound on the drums are tightly wrapped around the drums and have their free ends suitably fastened so that the cable ends will not be Whipped around as the `escaner.: `drums are rotated to effect drive of the traction wheels.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6, the caster wheel bracket 52 is detached from the forward end of the cutter bar and the caster wheel swivelv `till is swivelly mounted directly within an opening formed in the cutter bar near the rear end of the latter, so that the caster wheel is brought nearer to the traction wheels, thereby providing a shorter wheel base to facilitate steering of the machine. Otherwise this construction is the same as that above described. The cutter bar may be perforated by a series of longitudinally spaced openings for receiving the caster wheel swivel 54, so that the caster wheel may be located in various positions longitudinally of the cutter `bar as desired.

'endless cutter chain 62.

`the cable winding drums 64 and 65.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 8, 9 and l0, the improved transport means is shown associated with a room and pillar mining machine of the standard type as is also clearly described in the above mentioned Patent,

No. 2,131,178 and disclosed in Figs. 11 to 18 thereof.` As in the form of the invention above described, the feed driving gearing is modified so that the cable winding drums are driven in the same direction, instead of in opposite directions as in the above mentioned copending application. The mining machine of this form of the invention comprises a machine frame 6!) having mounted within the bottom portion thereof and projecting forwardly from the forward end of the frame, an elongated plane cutter bar 6I having guided for circulation about its margin, an

Mounted on the machine frame above the rearward portion of the cutter bar is a reversible motor 63 having its power shaft connected to the cutter chain and to The driving gearing for the cable winding drums is the same as that disclosed above and illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and therefore a repetition of the description thereof is considered unnecessary. The improved transport means for the mining machine, in this instance, comprises a pair of traction wheels G5, 66 having conventional pneumatic tires and having their hubs B1 journaled on roller bearings 68 supported by stub shafts 69 projecting laterally from the opposite sides of the machine frame. The axes of the traction wheels are herein arranged parallel with the drum axes in advance of the drums, but below a horizontal `screws l5, to the cutter bar and having a swivel 'it and a caster wheel 11, the caster wheel being similar to that disclosed in Fig. 2 of the drawings. When it is desired to transport the mining machine about the mine, the machine is jacked up ontosuitable blocking and the traction wheels are attached to the sides of the machine frame and the front caster wheel is attached to the forward end of the cutter bar. The machine is then againv jacked up, the blocking removed from "beneath the same and then lowered to bring the "supporting `wheels-into engagement with the mine floor. As in the form of the invention above described, the traction wheels are driven through the feed gearing by the cable winding drums B4 and 65.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 1l and 12, the mining machine is of the same general room and pillar type as that disclosed in Figs. 8 and 9, except in this instance the cable winding drums B and 8l are arranged on alined horizontal `axes extending transversely at the forward end of the machine frame 82. Projecting forwardly from the machine frame is an elongated plane cutter bar 83 having guided for circulation about its margin an endless cutter chain 84, and the cutter chain and the cable winding drums are driven from the motor of the mining machine in substantially the same manner as that described above in the form ofthe invention disclosed in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In this form of the invention, the traction wheels 85, 85 are secured directly to the drums 80 and 8l, respectively, and are arranged coaxially with the drums at the forward end of the machine frame. Secured at Sl to the rear end of the machine frame is a bracket 38 to which is attached a swivel member 89 of a caster wheel 90. As in the forms of the invention above described, the

traction wheels and caster wheel have conventional pneumatic tires. Otherwise this form of the invention is the same as those above described.

In all forms of the invention, the mining mau chine may be transported over the mine floor by the traction wheels, and steering of the machine during transport `is facilitated by the caster wheel. When the working place is reached, the mining machine is jacked up and the traction wheels and the caster wheel are detached from the machine and the machine is thereafter lowered onto its own bottom on the mine floor. When the supporting wheels are detached from the machine, the cables of the cable winding drums are extended around the various guide sheaves on the machine and the machine is maneuvered with respect to the coal face and fed over the mine floor during the cutting operation, in the manners well understood by those skilled in the art. By attaching the supporting wheels directly to the mining machine, the necessity of a separate transport truck is entirely eliminated and the machine is greatly simplified since the drum driving gearing is employed for driving the traction wheels to effect propulsion of the machine about the mine. Also by providing supporting wheels of the type disclosed, the machine may be propelled directly by engagement of the wheels with the mine fiom` wholly without the use of a trackway. Other uses and advantages of the improved transport means will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specifically described several forms which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a mining machine of the iioor cutter type adapted to slide on its own bottom over a mine floor during the cutting `operation and having feed driving gearing, of

means for transporting the mining machine comprising transport wheels adapted to run directly on the mine floor and attachable directly to parts of the mining machine for supporting the latter with its bottom raised from the mine floor, said wheels having releasable attaching means including cooperating attaching elements on the machine and wheels, and driving connections between certain of said transport wheels and said feed driving gearing for independently driving said wheels and embodying independent control means for said wheels whereby steering of the machine by the wheels during transport may be effected, said wheels being detached from the machine and the latter resting directly on the mine oor during the coal cutting operation of the machine.

2. The combination with a coal cutting machine of the floor cutter type adapted to slide on its own bottom over a mine floor during the cutting operation and having a machine frame and a cutter barl projecting from said frame, of

means for transporting the coal cutting machine with its bottom raised from the mine floor comprising traction wheels attachable to said machine frame and adapted to run directly on the mine door, means deriving its power from the coal cutting machine for independently driving said traction wheels and embodying independent control means for said wheels whereby steering of the machine by the wheels during transport may be effected, a swivelled wheel attachable to said cutter bar, and detachable means for attaching the traction wheels and said swiveled wheel to said machine frame and cutter bar respectively, said wheels being Adetached from the machine frame and cutter bar and the machine resting directly on the mine floor during the coal cutting operation of the machine.

3. The combination with a coal cutting machine of the oor cutter type adapted to slide on its own bottom over the mine Vfloor during the cutting operation and having a machine frame and a cutter bar projecting from said frame, of means for transporting the coal cutting machine with its bottom raised from the mine floor comprising transport wheels adapted to run directly on the mine floor and attachable directly to said machine frame and to the outer extremity of said cutter bar, detachable means for attaching said transport wheels to the machine frame and cutter bar respectively and including cooperating attaching elements on the wheels and on the frame and cutter bar, said wheels being detached from the machine and cutter bar and the machine resting directly on the mine floor during the coal cutting operation of the machine, and meansderiving its power from the coal cutting machine for independently driving certain of said transport wheels and embodying independent control means for the wheels whereby steering of the machine by the Wheels during transport may be effected.

4. The combination with a coal cutting machine of the type adapted to rest on its own bottom upon and slide over a mine floor during the cutting operation, of means for transporting the coal cutting machine during movement of the latter about the mine comprising transport wheels adapted to run directly on the mine floor and attach-able directly to parts of the coal cutting machine for supporting the latter with its bottom raised from the mine floor, said transport wheels being detached from the coal cutting machine during movement of the machine on its own bottom over the mine floor during the cutting operation, detachable means for attaching said transport Wheels to the coal cutting machine, and means deriving its power from the coalk cutting machine for independently driving certain of said transport wheels and embodying independent control means for the wheels whereby steering of the machine by the wheels during transport may be effected.

5. In a mining machine transport means, the combination with a mining machine of the floor cutter type adapted to slide on its own bottom over the mine oor during the cutting operation and having feed operating and controlling members for feeding the machine over the mine floor, of transport wheels attachable directly to the machine for supporting the machine with its bottom raised from the mine oor, and means for connecting said transport wheels to said feed operating and controlling members for driving by the latter.

6. In a mining machine transport means, the combination with a mining machine of the floor cutter type having feed operating and controlling members for feeding the machine over the mine iloor and for guiding the machine during its movement over the mine oor, of transport wheels attachable to the machine `including wheels connected to and respectively driven by said feed operating and controlling members.

7. In a mining machine transport means, the combination with a mining machine of the floor cutter type having feed operating and controlling members for feeding the machine over the mine floor and for guiding the machine during.

its movement over the mine floor, of transport wheels attachable to the machine including wheels connected to and respectively driven by said feed operating and controlling members, and an additional supporting wheel located at a point remote from said transport wheels.

8. In a transport means for mining machines, the combination with a mining machine of the oor cutter type adapted to rest on its own bottom for sliding movement over the mine floor during the cutting operation and having feed operating and controlling members for feeding and guiding themachine over the mine floor and a cutter bar, of transport wheels attachable to the machine for supporting the latter' with its bottom raised from the mine floor, and means for connecting certain of said wheels to said feed operating and controlling members respectively for driving by the latter, and another wheel connected to said cutter bar. p

9. The combination with a mining machine having a machine frame adapted to rest on its own bottom upon and move in any direction over a mine fioor and a cutter bar projecting from the machine frame, of means for transporting the mining machine with its bottom raised from the mine floor comprising traction wheels adapted to run directly on the mine floor and attachable directly to the machine frame at one end thereof, means deriving its power from the mining machine for independently driving said traction wheels and embodying independent control means for the Wheels whereby steering of the machine by the wheels during transport may be eifected, a swiveled caster wheel attachable to said cutter bar at the opposite end of the machine frame, and detachable means for attaching said traction wheels and said caster wheel to the machine frame and cutter bar respectively, said Wheels being detached from the machine frame and cutter bar and the machine resting directly on the mine floor during the coal cutting operation of the machine. t

10. The combination with `a coal cutting machine of the floor cutter type having flexible feeding means including relatively rotatable feed operating and controlling `members adaptedto cooperate respectively with feeding and controlling elements, of means for transporting the coal cutting machine including traction wheels adapted to run directly onthe mine floor and attachable directly to the coal cutting machine and independently driven by said feed operating and controlling members respectively, releasible means for attaching said traction Wheels to the machine, and means for connecting said traction Wheels in driving relation with said feed operating and controlling members and embodying independent control means for the traction Wheels wherebysteering of the machine by the wheels during transport may be effected.

ll. The combination with a mining machine of the ,iioor cutter type adapted to slide on its own bottom over a mine floor during the cutting operation vand having flexible feeding means for feeding the mining machine over the mine floor comprising terminall feeding elements on the machine and driving gearing for said terminal feeding elements, of means for transporting the mining machine comprising traction Wheels adapted to run directly on the mine floor and attachable directly to the machine and independently driven by said terminal feeding elements respectively through said feed driving gearing, releasible means for attaching said traction Wheels tothe machine, and means for connecting said tractionwheels in driving relation with said terminal feeding elements respectively and embodying independent control means for said` Wheels whereby steering of the machine by said wheels during transport may be effected.

12. In a mining machine transport means, the combination with a mining machine of the floor cutter type adapted to rest on its own bottom upon and slide in any direction over a mine floor during the cutting operation, of means for transporting the mining machine with its bottom raised from the mine oor comprising traction wheels adapted to run directly on the mine floor and attachable directly to the mining machine at one end thereof, means for independently driving said traction Wheels and embodying independent control means for said Wheels whereby steering of the machine by said Wheels during transport `may be effected, a swiveled caster, Wheel attachable to the mining machine at the opposite end thereof, and detachable means for attaching said traction Wheels and said caster Wheel to the mining machine and including cooperating attaching elements on the machine and Wheels, said traction wheels and said caster wheel being detached from the mining machine during movement of the machine on its own bottom over the mine floor during the cutting operation.

13. The combination With a coal cutting miachine of the type adapted to rest upon and slide over 'a mine oor during the cutting operation and having flexible feeding means comprising haulage drums for feeding and guiding the machine, of means for transporting the machine with its bottom raised from the mine floor comprising transport Wheels attachable directly to and respectively driven by said haulage drums.

WILLIAM W. DAR'INELL. 

